• Preview
• Recap
• Bleachers

Raptors aim for seventh home win in a row

Feb 1, 2008 - 3:04 PM LA Lakers (28-16) at Toronto (25-20) 7:00 pm EST

TORONTO (Ticker) - The Toronto Raptors look to continue their winning ways at home when Kobe Bryant and the shorthanded Los Angeles Lakers come calling on Friday.

Last time out, former No. 1 overall pick Andrea Bargnani scored 19 points to lead five others in double figures, helping Toronto earn its sixth straight win here with Wednesday's 122-83 victory over the Washington Wizards.

"We wanted to just come in with a lot of energy, rebound, and I think we did a better job of that," Raptors guard Anthony Parker said. "We were able to cut the turnovers down and we shot the ball a lot better."

The Raptors are riding their longest their home winning streak since rolling off eight games in a row from January 22-February 14 last season.

Los Angeles enters with the hopes of rebounding after Thursday's 90-89 letdown to the Detroit Pistons in the opener of a nine-game road swing. Kobe Bryant carried the load with 39 points.

"It's a tough loss because I felt like we had the game, but we made mental errors down the stretch," Bryant said. "But I'm encouraged and if we keep playing hard like this on the trip, we'll be all right."

The reigning scoring champion, Bryant has had his way with against the Raptors, averaging 26.9 points while shooting 46 percent in 18 career matchups.

Los Angeles and Toronto split in two meetings last season, but the Lakers own an impressive 17-5 record overall in the all-time series since the Raptors entered the league during the 1995-96 campaign.